Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Lexington, KY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Lexington-Fayette, KY

Median annual salary $35,900 -1.5% vs national
Median hourly $17.26
10th percentile $28,730
90th percentile $48,780
Employed locally 1,360
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Lexington, KY
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,730
    25th
    $31,330
    50th (median)
    $35,900
    75th
    $38,870
    90th
    $48,780

    Lexington economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,717 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $36,650
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $36,190
    Sandusky, OH $35,710
    Paducah, KY-IL $31,450
    Bowling Green, KY $30,850
    Kentucky $30,770

    Related occupations in Lexington, KY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,740
    Waiters and Waitresses $22,290
    Cooks, Fast Food $26,050
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,520
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,480
    Food Preparation Workers $26,980

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Lexington?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Lexington, KY is $17.26, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.22 or more per hour.

    Is Lexington above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Lexington, KY is 1.5% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Lexington?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $28,730 per year in Lexington, KY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,330.